ITALIAN SICILIAN PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR / MAY 2024

For photographers, artists and explorers, there’s simply no country quite like Italy. Join us in May 2019 as we discover a more ancient part of Italy that is Sicily. We’re excited to share with you our love of the amazing culture and people found throughout this historically important island.

Our Italian Sicilian photography tour was created with the intention of making it a truly unique photographic experience. Though the emphasis will be on photography, it will be a one-of-a-kind cultural journey capturing and enriching all of the senses. You’ll be moved by the dramatic architecture, the rich and textured landscapes and the enormous cultural history awaiting there. And of course, there’s the great food and wine to be discovered and savored! You will be amazed, starting with the very first image you take. The clear, clean light of Sicily will look like your image has been processed before you even touch it. So come and immerse yourself in the love of photography for nine amazing days on the Mediterranean.

Leading the Sicilian photography tour are Tracey Landworth and Santino Zafarana, who together have 75 years of professional photography and photo teaching experience between them.  Tracey and Santino will help guide, inspire and enhance your photographic adventure. They will assist you in understanding how to capture the great light, help improve composition and create mood in all your photographs — ensuring that you go home with new ways of seeing as well as bringing back lots of unforgettable memories. While there are specific itineraries planned, there will also be flexibility so that you can take advantage of the many photographic opportunities encountered all along the way.

Itinerary Details

Day One begins just outside the beautiful seaside town of Cefalù  where you’ll enjoy a welcome dinner at the stunning Blue Bay hotel overlooking the Mediterranean’s clear blue waters, distance to Cefalù, an Arab- Norman architectural masterpiece. The squares, streets and churches of this medieval town are amazingly picturesque and was chosen by director Giuseppe Tornatore to shoot the much-loved Academy Award-winning film Cinema Paradiso.

On Day Two you’ll explore further Cefalù, one of the true jewels of the Sicilian coast. This prime coastal town was settled by the Sikels, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines and Arabs long before the Normans arrived in the 11th Century. You’ll find yourself getting lost in its beautiful light and you’ll feel caught up in ancient history when you are surrounded by Cefalù’s architectural mystery. In 2016, il Duomo di Cefalù (the Cathedral of Cefalù) — widely known and admired for its mosaics including the dominant Christ Pantokrator mosaic —  became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. All of this creates a very dramatic backdrop for all aspects of your photography.

For Day 3, you’ll travel up into the magnificent Madoni mountain range and explore the town of Polizzi Generosa (Santino’s home town) which dates to 6 BC. You’ll spend many pleasant hours photographing this quaint town with its beautiful panoramic position overlooking the southern and northern sides of the Imera valley. During the day, you will visit fourth-generation ceramic artist Giovanni Dangelo at his unique family studio where he is pushing the artistic envelope and challenging traditional local ceramic styles.

This picturesque town of Poggioreale was hit by an earthquake, Sicilians call this place their modern-day Pompeii. It’s an open-air museum where the architecture has resisted nature’s ravages. Buildings of golden stone façades shine in the sunlight while colorful walls and ceilings stand out amid fallen trees, moss and rubble.

Local outing and critique day.

Day 6. Like Sicily, the incredible city of Palermo is literally at the crossroads of civilizations, delivering a heady, heavily spiced mix of Byzantine mosaics, Arabesque domes and frescoed cupolas. This is a city at the edge of Europe and at the center of the ancient world, a place where outdoor markets rub against baroque churches, where date palms frame Gothic palaces and where the blue-eyed and the fair-haired have bronze-skinned cousins. Busy markets include the central Ballarò street market and the Vucciria, located near the port. The city’s crumbling staircases lead to gilded ballrooms and guarded locals harbor hearts of gold. Despite its noisy streets, Sicily’s largest city is a shy beast, rewarding the inquisitive with citrus-filled cloisters, stucco-laced chapels and vintage stores filled with the threads of faded aristocrats where you might just find yourself suddenly and unexpectedly in love at any turn.

On Day 7, you will travel back in time to the Temple of Gods in Selinunte, where you will find some of the most outstanding examples of ancient Greek art and architecture. This archaeological park is one of the main attractions of Sicily and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll be amazed as you walk through these majestic yellow sandstone structures as they are illuminated in the golden hues of the sinking sun.

Local outing and critique day.

On Day 9,

Castelbuno & Pollina both small town are nestled in the valleys of the Madonie Mountains, where donkeys are used to collect recycled waste. There is a beautiful serenity in the winding streets of Castelbuono & Pollina, a serenity that is difficult to find in the chaos of 21st-century human society.

Returning late afternoon to Cefalu to capture a final sunset in this picturesque medieval seaside town with its many perspectives shades of hues and tones….The perfect ending to an enriching photographic adventure!

On Day 10, we meet for breakfast, we say our goodby’s and head to the airport for your flight back home or further destination.

DETAILS FOR OUR 10 DAY ITALY PHOTO TOUR

DATES: MAY 22 – 31, 2024
(Including arrival and departure days)

COST: $6,200 (USD)
Limited to only 8 spots, so spaces will go quickly.  A deposit of $1,000 USD is required to hold your spot. Remaining balance is due 90 days prior to departure.

Appropriate for all levels of interest and skill in photography.

What’s Included:

  • 9 Nights Lodging (from check-in May 22th to checkout May 31th )
  • 9 Breakfast / 7 Lunch / 7 Dinner
  • Guides & Special Tours
  • All Tickets & Entrance Fees
  • Transportation During Photo Tour

What’s Not Included:

  • Airfare to and from Italy
  • Snacks & Drinks outside of listed meals
  • Alcoholic Beverages (beyond table wine with dinner)
  • Departure transfer / train ticket
  • International Medical & Travel Insurance Coverage

ACCOMMODATIONS

Prices are based on single occupancy, since we believe that this makes the trip experience more pleasurable. If your spouse or partner wants to join the tour, share your room and not take part in the photography experience, their cost is reduced to $3695.

Have Questions? Email or Call us.    info@creativephotoworkshops.com

310-839-8866